Despite 2022 being a bit of a tough year for me, it had its highlights too. The high for me was publishing my memoir – Xine’s Pack of Strays & Others, and having my father read the book. The lows – there were a few, including two deaths. My ex-husband and father of my two children died suddenly of a massive heart attack in June. And for a good part of the year, my father was battling congestive heart disease and was in and out of the hospital, having stent procedures and mitral valve clips inserted…He spent most of December in the hospital and was released into home hospice six days before passing away peacefully on Jan. 2, 2023. It was not a great way to end or start a year.
Throughout last year, I was able to rely on books to help take my mind off my troubles and escape into some other world and someone else’s life. A few years ago, I decided to turn off the TV and read and listen to books more. Since then, I have increased my reading goals, expanded my interests in topics and genres, and achieved my reading goals. I read an increasing number of physical books, eighteen books last year which made up 24% of the total number of books I read. Have really enjoyed my physical book selections which many were suggested by my Literati Book Club which sadly is no longer operating and my Book of the Month Club membership. Both clubs have introduced me to wonderful author and stories. Many of the books I read were based off recommendations from friends and family, including my Dad. I read The Rose Code because I saw that he was reading it. I’ll miss being able to talk about books with Dad.
I also read faster than I used to, proving that my English teachers were correct and that my reading would improve with practice. Too bad it took me so long to listen to them. Better late than never; you are never too old to start something new. I love curling up on the couch with the dogs, bookending me as I lose myself in a book. I’ve also started to read more on my Kindle again this year.
I love statistics – I think it may be a family thing. This is one of the reasons I love using the Goodreads website and joining their annual Reading Challenge since they tell you how many pages you read and all sorts of stats about the books you read during the year. For instance, I surpassed my goal of 57 books by reading 75 books – 129% of my goal! The shortest book was Lying at 47 pages, and the longest was The Rose Code at 624 pages. You can visit my author profile by following this link.
When I started on the Goodreads website a few years ago, I would rate a book simply by assigning a star rating. But I realized as I aged and read more and more that I would sometimes forget why I liked or disliked a particular book. So, I decided to start writing book reviews as a writing exercise and a memory one.
My average rating for 2022 was 3.5
13 books rated 5 stars (17%)
33 books rated 4 stars (33%)
12 books rated 3 stars (16%)
15 books rated 2 stars (20%)
3 books rated 1 star (4%)
My 2022 Five Star list (in the order read during the year)
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri is a moving story about family and the power of the names we give our children.
Unleashed: Poems by Writers’ Dogs by Amy Hempel and Jim Shepard – a humorous and heartwarming poetry collection dedicated to our dogs.
A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas – A powerful memoir that blew me away
The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe – Classic collection of stories
Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut – Another classic that still holds the test of time.
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert – fascinating historical fiction rich with character
The Power of Neuroplasticity by Shad Helmstetter – Scientific stuff broken down to easily understand
My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite– powerful novella packs a punch!
Verity by Colleen Hoover – Late to the game in getting to know Colleen Hoover – I became an instant fan after this book!
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams – I loved this so much about this book.
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn – Awesome historical fiction about Bletchley Park masterfully told.
The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams – An unforgettable story about family, community, and grief
Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions by Ogunyemi Omolola Ijeoma
I realized that I have never explained my criteria for rating books, so I have separated my Rating Criteria into a post describing how I arrive at my star rating, which I include in my Goodreads and Amazon reviews of books and audiobooks.
Overall, I read a bunch of books which I really enjoyed. Learned about some authors that I was unfamiliar with, became a big fan and look forward to read more from them. Our lives are inundated with reading this, that and the other thing in quick snippets everyday thanks to the internet and social media. attention spans are shortening. Which is why disconnecting from all that noise and diving into a book feels so good.
Enjoy your reading!
Xine's Pack 